Check engine light

[cynth]

It's a beautiful day in Brooklyn, NY. I'm driving down the Belt Parkway with the top down and leaves are flowing over the car like a scene from a movie. I go over a a curve and down a slope at a good speed, but no faster than anyone else. I spy an a motorcycle officer on the grass and I downshift to 4, and tap the brakes reducing speed about 5-10 over the limit.

About a mile away I look down and see that the check engine light has lit up. I'm not exactly sure when it lit up (after the officer) but it did light up and the car became sluggish. I got to the off ramp and at the light turned off the engine and restarted it. Light went away.

I drove the vehicle about 700 miles from where I bought it to home and didn't have any issues.

Now I planned on going to the mechanic today, but I didn't get there early enough and do need to drive about for the next couple of days. If the engine light goes on again, I'll bring it back in for service tomorrow. Otherwise, I'll bring it in on Monday morning.

Also, can anyone recommend an inexpensive OBD code reader tool? Can I get one that also does the SRS reset too?

[io14]

Peake reset tool is a good one ! Check your gas cap ? tight ?

[rf900rkw]

The scanner offerings for BMW have really opened up in the last few years. If you have an old Windows laptop, INPA is the way to go. Typically about $40 to get it up and running. Failing that, there is a multitude of OBDii scanners that will actually scan... not just read codes. The decade old forum standbys of Peake and the Bav-tool code readers are very limited by comparision, and hideously expensive

[MusicCity Coupe]

Our local parts stores will scan for free. That is pretty cheap!!!

[mnguyen84]

actron scanner plus. small hand held ebay it new for like $150. it can reset codes and stuff...not service stuff..i dont think. i have it. i like it.

[BladeRunner919]

Our local parts stores will scan for free. That is pretty cheap!!!

Are they scanning BMW codes or generic OBDII codes? There's a world of difference in terms of what you can find out about your car. As Randy said, for $40 you can do everything you could ever want using INPA (or DIS or Carsoft - you can run them all over the same cable).

[rf900rkw]

There are three ways codes can be displayed on our cars. The full BMW FC code (Inpa, DIS, etc), OBDii code (generic), and then the first two bytes of the BMW FC code (Peake). Sometimes the full BMW FC is better, sometimes the OBDii is. Never is the short FC (Peake) the best, and most times it will lead you far astray.

[HenryMCS54]

Hi Randy:

is this the INPA to which you are referring?

http://www.amazon.com/Ediabas-D-CAN-.../dp/B00CDCOVAS

thanks,

Henry

[rf900rkw]

Yes, that's the one. Although, that price is a tad steep from what I've seen lately. I just picked up a D-can cable (came with INPA and friends) for like $20. It had to come slow boat from China, so if you are in a hurry something stateside would be better.

[DuWop]

Hi Randy:

is this the INPA to which you are referring?

http://www.amazon.com/Ediabas-D-CAN-.../dp/B00CDCOVAS

thanks,

Henry

Will this "Diagnostic Scanner SSS NCS/20 pin" work with my 1998 BMW Z3 2.8L built in July of 1998? My data link connection under the hood has 12 pen connections.

[rf900rkw]

SSS and NCSExpert are not really scanners, and are definitely not tools for the unexperienced. INPA is the software of choice, powerful but fairly limited in it's writing capabilities. Normally all the software mentioned and more come bundled together. Install and just use INPA. For the Z3, most any cable option that gets you to the 20 pin connector will work. I used KKL cables meant for Vag-com for years. D-Can will also work, and are more common now. I just switched to the D-Can, as it covers newer cars. One of these cables combined with the ever-present 16-20 pin adapter are all you need. And in reality you can do all the K-line modules from the inside 16pin plug. IT's the L-line modules that require the 20 pin.

[DuWop]

SSS and NCSExpert are not really scanners, and are definitely not tools for the unexperienced. INPA is the software of choice, powerful but fairly limited in it's writing capabilities. Normally all the software mentioned and more come bundled together. Install and just use INPA. For the Z3, most any cable option that gets you to the 20 pin connector will work. I used KKL cables meant for Vag-com for years. D-Can will also work, and are more common now. I just switched to the D-Can, as it covers newer cars. One of these cables combined with the ever-present 16-20 pin adapter are all you need. And in reality you can do all the K-line modules from the inside 16pin plug. IT's the L-line modules that require the 20 pin.

Thanks for the info /.randy

My 1998 BMW Z3 2.8L data link connector. 20 pin holes, 12 pins connecting.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=581315181914681&set=a.2483728318755 86.55834.100001086122733&type=1&theater

To add to my confusion I'm going to buy it. Maybe in time I'll learn how to use it.
BMW INPA/Ediabas K+D-CAN USB Interface OBD2 Diagnostic Scanner SSS NCS/20 pin

http://www.amazon.com/Ediabas-D-CAN-...=5336432695-20

[rf900rkw]

20 pin connector has the capability of holding 20 pins. Not all are populated.